CROWLEY, Aleister and Marcelo MOTTA

Magick Without Tears, Unexpurgated, Commented. Part I [and] .... Part II. Being 'The Oriflamme', Volume VI, Number 3 [and] Volume VI, Number 4

[Nashville], Society Ordo Templi Orientis International, 1983 and 1984 (first thus).

Large octavo, two volumes, xxiv, 619, [5] (advertisements) and xiv, 572, [5] (advertisements) pages with a small number of illustrations.

Part I: cream card covers (printed and decorated in red) slightly marked and bumped, lightly creased down the spine, and slightly marked on the edges, with the leading edge a little thumbed; minimal signs of age and use; a very good copy. Part II: cream card covers (printed and decorated orange) with a tiny surface blemish to the publisher's thin laminate on the front cover; a near-fine copy.

'"Magick Without Tears" was conceived by Aleister Crowley as a series of letters answering questions from beginners on Magick, mysticism, the work of occult orders, the techniques of the Masters, and the philosophy of Thelema. 'Magick Without Tears' - meaning Magick put simply, to be learned without effort. In 1947 e.v. Crowley died in poverty and opprobrium, without seeing this, as many others of his works, reach the public.

In 1954 e.v. "Magick Without Tears" was published by Mr. Karl Johannes Germer, Crowley's successor as Outer Head of the O.T.O. It was published under conditions of great hardship. Only one hundred and fifty copies were printed. The book quickly became a bibliophile rarity. In 1962 e.v. Mr Germer died under suspicious circumstances, naming a Brazilian citizen, Marcelo Motta, his follower as Outer Head. Because of the interference of certain intelligence services, Mr. Motta did not learn of his heirship for eleven years. Meanwhile, disparate claims of O.T.O. authority were made by totally unworthy persons, and many Crowley books (the copyrights of which he left to the O.T.O.) were shamelessly pirated. One of these pirated books was "Magick Without Tears". Two editions were published by a certain Israel Regardie. Fifteen thousands words of the original text were excised, totally castrating the author's thought and intention.

This present, legitimate edition of "Magick Without Tears" restores the authentic Crowley text. Notes by Marcelo Motta not only clarify the meaning but indicate where, and why, Francis Regardie cut the original. As an invaluable addition, Mr. Motta has provided an essay, aptly titled "Intelligence Services are Not Intelligent", which details the history of the O.T.O. since Crowley's death' (rear cover blurb). [2 items].